Sodium hyaluronate effect on the graft reepithelialisation after transfixiant keratoplasty

Purpose : To investigate the effect of sodium hyaluronate on reepithelializ ation time after penetrating keratoplaty. Methods : We prospectly studied 56 consecutive penetrating keratoplasties. One group of patients (n = 22) received dexamethasone ointment at the end o f surgery. The second group (n = 34) received sodium hyaluronate and topica l dexamethasone. Postoperative reepithelialization time and graft central t hickness were recorded. Results: There was no statistical difference between both groups for epithe lialization (4.6 + 3.2 days in the hyaluronate group and 4.4 + 2.3 days in the dexamathasone group) and for graft thickness at day one (710 + 85 mu m for the former group and 713 + 84 mu m for the latter group) and at day of reepithelialization (663 + 80 mu m for the former group and 703 + 99 mu m f or the latter group). The epithelium aspect was different at the first post operative day between both groups. Conclusion: The use of sodium hyaluronate at the end of penetrating keratop lasty improves the graft epithelium aspect at the first postoperative day, but it does not influence reepithelialization time. Further studies are nee ded to investigate the mechanism of sodium hyaluronate effect on corneal ep ithelium.